Ball pipe joint



June 5, 1928.

C. W. AVELING BALL PIPE JOINT Filed June 5, 1924 Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED S TATE'S PATENT; OFFICE.

GHRISTIAAN w. AVELING, or wHE ToN',.ILLINoIs, ASSIGNOR "r0 JULIA E. Ammo, or WHEATON, rru vors". 1

BALL "PIPE JOINT.

Application filed .Tune 5, 1924. Serial No. 717,913.

' My invention relates to ball nections.

Considerable difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in theuse of ball and socket pipe joint pipe conjoints when employed particularly'on rails-v way cars to transmit steam from car to car. I find that in view of their location'under the cars, they are subjected to excessive dust and other foreign {matter working into the interior and between bearing surfaces. Moreover, in the prior design of these ball and socket pipe joints, it has been customary to provide the swivel below the trunnion permitting vertical oscillation. I also find that with such an arrangement, the various parts interlock when oscillated in eitherdirection.

In other words, the motion of the vertical trunnions results in the movement of theparts providing transverse or horizontal oscillation. i

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a ball and socket pipe joint having provisions for excluding dust from the work-' ing parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ball andsocket pipe joint having pro visions whereby the ball and socket may be self-centering, andwhereby the parts will not interlock when oscillated in either direction. i I

A further'object of my invention is to provide a ball and socket pipe joint provided with an expansible element, operated either thermally or mechanically, whereby this element may be expanded tightly against the socket and casing to form a tight joint and hold the socket firmly in position against the ball. If accomplished thermally, the expansible element will beformed of a material having ahigher coefficient of expansion than the socket and casing, so that when the steam is turned on, a tight joint will be obtained. i

A further object of my invention is to provide an all metal ball and socket'pipe joint.

A furtherobject of my invention is to pro- 1 vi'dea ball and socket pipe joint which will 1 be simple, durable and etficient.

.Further objects will appear from the description and claims. 1

In the drawings-f Figure 1 is a transverse v'ertical'section 20, to provide clearance for the trunnionsj as the rocker shell oscillates. I

For oscillatably mounting the rocker ring Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same;

Fig; 3 is a detail view looking downwardly into the rocker shell, oscillatably adapted to be moimted in thelower end casing;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the expan sible elements employed forinterlocking the;

oscillatably mounted on the lower shell 4, a

rocker ring 6 oscillatably mounted on the rocker shell 5, an apertured'ballmembe'r 7 swivelled on the rocker ring ,6, a socket mem-i ber 8 having a spherical portion 9 cooperating with the ball member 7 a pipesection 10 secured in the apertured ball member 7 a spherical dust capll surrounding the .pipe

10 and seated in the rocker shell 5, a'bronze tube or sleeve 12, the purpose of which will be described more fully hereinafter, and a spring 13 for pressing the socket member 8 into contact with the ball member .7.

The dust excluding ring 11 is carried by the lower shell 5 for sealing between this lower shell and the rocker shell to exclude dust. The socket member 8 is provided with an annular recess 15 to receive a suitable'lubricating and sealing material 16, as graphite. Any'suitable materials may be used for I the various parts referred to. The casing,

lower shell, rocker shell, ball member and socket membermay be formed: of cast iron. The rocker ring 6 may be of cast iron. The 'dust' cap 11 may be ofmalleableor cast iron or steel. The tube 12 may be of bronze which has a higher co-eflicient of expansion than the cast iron of the socket member and casing member. 1 v

For oscillatably mounting therocker shell 5 on the lower shell 4, the rocker shell is provided with a pair of oppositely located semicylindrical trunnions 17, which are pivotally or oscillatably mounted in the 'semi circular bearing recesses 18 in the lower shell 4. The casing member 2 is recessed, as indicated 'at 6 on the rocker shell 5, the lower face of the rocker ring is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed semi-circular journal or trunnion'members- 21 which are oscillatably mounted in arcuate bearing recesses 22 formed integrally with the rocker shell 5. The trunnions 17 have a slight end-wise play in the lower shell 4: and the trunnion members 21 of the rocker ring having a slight end-wise play in the bearing; recesses 22', so that the ball'and. socket members are tree to align. themselves as determined by the bronze tube 12, which positions the socket member 8 which oscillates within the rocker shell 5,.

the pipe 10 havingfreedom. to move back and torth. in the slot 24 in. the rocker shell 5.

The lower shell at may be provided with wrench-engaging lugs 25 to facilitate threadinggit into and out of the casing 2. A cotter pin26 may be provided for preventing; the lower shell t from becoming unthreaded.

This cotter pin extends through the-casing memb'er and is so located as to intersect the threaded connection between the lower shell and the casing member, th'us keying the low er shell t against rotation.

It-will be noted-that the lower end of the ball-joint pipe connection is sealed against dust, grit, or other foreign matter by the dustcap. 11, which is free to move with pipe section 110' in its oscillation about the trunnions 21. Slot 24 is ofa length permitting free oscillation of the pipe section 10 without breaking the dust seal furnished by the dust' cap 11, while the apierturect disk excludes all dust that could. possibly work past thecapll where the pipe 10 enters. I con.- sider'this an importa-ntteature of my invention and shall claim the same broadly.

A felt ring 30 may be recessed in the lower edgeofthe'lower ring t'iior closing the space betweenthis ring t and therocker ring 5.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the expansible tube-or ring; 12- is illustrated in detail. In Fig.v 5, this'tube 12-is in the form of athermal element which expands, when hot fluid flows A past-the: joint'of the cylindrical portions of the socket 8 and easing 2, for the: purpose of covering this joint. In Fig.x 6, an expansible spring ring is illustrated. The expa-nsible spring ring is provided with an overlapping joint 29, and may be used as mechanical means for interlocking the socket 7 to the casing-2 in'fi' nid ti ght-relation, this 'b'eingthe function of the expansible ring whether mechanically or thermally expanded;

/Vithout further elaboration, it will be noted that my invention provides a ball joint pipe connection havingall its partsot metal, the swivel joints of which operate independently of each other, and which is dust proof so that dirt and grit may notvwork' between. bearing surfaces; Further, the expansible ring, serves to interlock the casing and socket together as a unit in. fluid tight relation, preventing possibility of leakage and accomplishing. proper centering ot' the parts.

I- claim:

1.1 A balland socket. pipe joint comprising a ball member, a metal socket member cooperating with said ball member, a; metal.

casing member for receiving said socket member, said casrngandv socket member havand a metal tube fittingv in saidflcylindrical portions and covering. the 101m; between said cylindrical portions, said metal tube being, of a material having a hlgher co-eiiicient 0t expansionthan that of the material oi: the metal casingand socket member whereby when hot fluid flows through said: joint said tube will be expanded tightly into said cylindricalrportions. to form a tight joint and to hold said. socket member firmly in contact with said ball member against the action 2. A ball and socket jointcomprising a ball member, a socket member cooperating with said ball; member, acasingmember for receiving, saidsocketlmember, said casing.

and socket members havingadjacent cylin drical'portions, and'an expansible element fittin v in said-"cylindrical portions and covering the joint between? said cylindrical: portions, the expansibility of said element ing adjacentalignedcylindrical" portions,

lUU

his

causing said element to-assume atight' fit in said.- cylindrical portions to provide a fluid tight joint and to hold the socket member firmly in con-tact ,with said ball member against the action of flu-idpressure;

3. A ball and socket pipe joint comprising a casing member, a rocker-shell. oscillatably mounted on said casing member,-; a rocker ring oscillatably mounted on said rocker shell, a ball swiveled on said rocker ring about an axisextending longitudina-llyiof the pipe joint, and a: socket cooperating with said ball.

1. A ball and socket pi-pe joiintcomprising a casing member, a rocker shellE oscillatabiy 'mounted' onsaid casingymember, a rocker ring oscillatably mounted on said rocker shell,.a ball carried by, said rockerring, and a socket cooperating with said ball, said er shelloscillatably mounted on said casing,

a rocker ring oscillatably mounted on said rocker shell, a ball carried by said rockerring, a socket cooperating with said ball, and, apipe connected with said ball and oscillat-.

able in said slot.

6. A ball and sooke; pipe joint comprising a casing member, a bowl-shaped slotted rocker shell oscillatably mounted on-saidcasing, a rocker ring oscillatably mounted on said rocker shell, a ball carried by said rockerring, a socket cooperating with said ball, and a pipe connected with said'ball and oscillatable in said slot, and a dust cap in said bowlshaped rocker shell surrounding said pipe and closing saidslot. 1 y

7. In a ball and socket pipe joint, the combination of a casing member, a socket member, a ball cooperating with said socket member, a pipe section entering said casing member at one end, a shell for closing said end of said casing, said ball positioned on said pipe section, means for providing oscillatable movement otsaid ball relative to said shell, said shell being provided with a slot thereinin which said pipe section rocks, and a dust cap within'said shell and covering said slot. i I

8. A ball and socket pipe joint comprising a ball member, a metal socket cooperating with said ball member, a metal casing memher for receiving said socket member, said socket member being provided with a sleeve member fitting snugly in and centered by said casing member, said sleeve member being of a material having a-higher co-efiicient of expansion than the casing, whereby when hot fluid flows through said joint said sleeve member will expand tightly against the casing to form atight joint and tohold said socket member firmly in contact with the ball member against the action of fluid pressure.

9. A ball and socket pipe joint comprising a socket member having a-steam passage y therethrough, a'ball member havinga steam passage therethrough,a pipe carried by the ball member in communication with the as sage therein, a rocker member through w ich said pipe extends and on which said ball member is swivelled about an axis extending longitudinally of the axis ofthe pipe joint, a

second rocker member onv which said first rocker member is rockably mounted, and a separable two-part casing for housingsaid ball .member, said socket member and said rocker members, and spring means for pressing said socket member against said ball member, said socket member being recessed to provide a condensation pocket between the socket and ball to prevent the escape of steam.

10. Aball and socket pipe joint comprising a socket member having a steam passage therethrough, a ballmember having a steam v passage therethrough, a pipe carried by the ball member in communication with the pas sage therein, a rocker member through which said pipe extends and on which said ball member is swivelled about an axis extending longitudinally of the axis of the pipe joint, a second rocker member on which said first rocker member is rockably mounted, and a separable two-part casing for housing said ball member, said socket member and said rocker members, and spring means for pressing said socket member against said ball member.

I 11. A ball and socket pipe joint comprising a socket member having a steam passage therethrough, a ball member having a steam passage therethrough, a pipe'carried'by the ball member in communication with the pas.-

sage therein, a rocker member through which said pipeextends and on which said ball member is swivelled about an axis extending longitudinally of the axis of the pipe joint,

a second rocker member on which said first rocker member is rockably mounted, and a separable two-part casing for housmg said ball member, said socket member and said rocker members.

12. A ball and socket pipe joint compris- I ing a socket member'having a steam passage therethrough, a'ball member having a steam passage therethrough, a pipe carried by the ballmember in communication with the passage there n, a rocker member through which sa d pipe extends and on which said I ball member is swivelled about an axis extending longitudinally of the axis of the pipe joint, a second rocker member on which saidfirst rocker member is rockably mounted.

:13. A ball and socket pipe joint comprising a casing member, a rocker shell oscillatably mounted on said casing member, a rocker ring oscillatably mounted on said rocker shell,'a ball carried by said rocker ring, a r I socket cooperating with said ball, said rocker shell and said rocker ring having provisions for axialplay transversely of the axis of the pipe joint whereby the ball and socket are self adjusting, said socket being provided with a. sleeve centered by said casing and serving to center the socket,-thereby positioning the rocker shell and rocker ring.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHRISTIAAN W. AVELING. 

